One of the most commonly asked questions I receive is “How did you grow your hair so long?” so today, I’m going to share a few of my tips for growing long, strong hair. A significant factor in this is undoubtedly genetics. I know that plays a part in how I’m able to grow and maintain such long hair, so while we can’t change our genetics, although that would be nice, I’ll share with you the hair care tips that I use that aren’t related to genes, and I’ll answer a few of the most commonly asked questions about my hair, hair care, and more.
Read my guide to haircare, and more about my hair care routine, here.
Q: What is your hair type?
A: I have a mix of 2C – 3B hair. The hair around the base of my head and ears is significantly curlier than the hair on top of my head, which tends to be a bit flatter. While my hair is a medium thickness, the curls can make it thick looking sometimes.
Q: Is your hair naturally curly, or do you curl it?
A: My hair is naturally curly, but because I have such a wide range of “curliness” naturally, I curl my hair most days to make it consistent, sleeker, and more manageable.
Q: Which curling iron do you use?
A: I generally use this iron. I love it because it has interchangeable heads, meaning I can pack one curling iron with the attachment heads I want to take with me, so I save room in my suitcase when traveling.
Q: How did you grow your hair out so long?
A: As I mentioned above, part of it is genetics. I also don’t have a lot of hair cut off at once, maybe just a few inches, and I only cut my hair 1-3 times a year. I trim my hair myself to remove any split ends in between hair cuts, and I make sure to moisturize my roots with intense hair conditioners and hair masks to keep them healthy.
I also try to eat a balanced diet. I take vitamins like biotin, vitamin E, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B, plus a multi-vitamin so that my body has the materials it needs to grow long, healthy hair. You can’t build a house without the proper building materials, just like your body can’t grow anything, like hair, without the proper vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Treat your body well, eat a healthy, balanced diet, and take supplements that you may lack to compensate for any “holes” in your diet.
Q: Which hair products do you use and recommend for growing hair out?
A: I use various hair care products, like this clarifying lemon shampoo & conditioner which keeps my hair healthy by removing build-up, this hydrating cream, and this leave-in conditioner.
I like to mix & match these products, along with hair masks, based on my needs. Just like our bodies, our hair requires a varied diet to be healthy, so don’t be afraid to use 2-5 different conditioners and mix them or rotate which ones you use. You can even cycle in oils like coconut oil, almond oil, or avocado oils as pre-wash treatments too for nourished, silky hair.
This is my favorite detangling spray. It makes brushing out my curly hair much easier, prevents breakage, and prevents split ends from brushing. I’ve used this for years, and it’s really improved the health of my hair, especially since I don’t cut my hair very often.
Q: What type of hair masks do you use?
A: Every two weeks, I mash up an avocado, 2-3 tbs of Manuka honey, and 2-3 tbs of coconut oil, and I coat my hair in the mixture before I shower. I let it sit for 20-30 minutes, or sometimes up to 2 hours if I put in a hair mask and watch a movie. Then, I wash my hair as normal. I follow it up with an apple cider vinegar hair rinse, and my hair feels so soft and is much more manageable and shinier.
Q: Have you ever had short hair, or will you cut it short in the future?
A: When I was little, I had hair that was about shoulder length. I don’t think I will ever have short hair as an adult because my long hair is important to me for cultural reasons, and I like having my hair long as a personal preference. While I absolutely love the look of short hair on other people, I don’t think I could ever pull off short hair myself, and I think it might traumatize me if it was ever too short!
Q: Do you have any hair care techniques that helped grow your hair?
A: I brush very gently and never pull at my hair. The detangled spray I mentioned above helps tremendously with this. I use a wide bristled bamboo brush to detangle my hair gently; I also use this wide-tooth comb as well. I always use a heat protectant spray when I style my hair because if my hair is soft, strong, and healthy, I don’t have to worry about cutting it as often. I also never wash my hair with hot water; I use cool or cold water to close the hair follicle, making my hair smoother, silkier, and healthier. By taking care of the hair you do have, you won’t have to cut it so often, which means you can grow out your hair worry-free!
Q: Do you dye your hair? If so, what do you ask for at the salon to get your hair color and highlights?
A: I’ve actually never dyed my hair; it’s my natural color. Any highlights that you may see in photos are probably from being out in the sun, haha. Although, I have had a couple of white hairs pop up over the last year. So maybe someday I will experiment with coloring my hair and trying out some new looks. I’m definitely not opposed to dying my hair; I’ve just never had a powerful desire to cover up my reddish-brown hair.
What other questions do you have for me? Feel free to email me your questions at anniewearsit@gmail.com, and they may be included in an upcoming Q&A!
Annie Fairfax
Follow Me for More: @AnnieFairfax
See More by Annie Fairfax
Amusement Parks | Castles | Festivals | Fine Dining | Gardens | Golf Courses | Hotels & Resorts | Museums | Spas | Style | Temples & Shrines | UNESCO World Heritage Sites |
Travel Guides
Baden-Baden | Bay Harbor | Bay View | Berlin | Beverly Hills | Black Forest | Carmel | Chicago | Cincinnati | Colmar | Disneyland | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Grand Rapids | Greenland | Hakone | Harbor Springs| Heidelberg | Holland | Indianapolis | Irvine | Isle of Skye | Kurokawa Onsen | Kyoto | Laguna Beach | Loch Ness | London| Los Angeles | Mackinac Island | Mexico City | Nara | New Orleans | New York City | Niagara Falls | Nikko | Northern Michigan | Osaka | Petoskey | Querétaro | Riviera Maya | Rome | Seattle | Tokyo | Tokyo DisneySea | Toronto| Traverse City | Tucson | Tulum | Vatican City | Venice | Warsaw | West Hollywood |
Connie Watts says
My hair color as a teenager was close to yours – maybe a little darker. Today it’s almost all white. (I’m 54!.) I do color it – I feel like it makes me look younger. I have started coloring it a dark blonde color with highlights. I feel like it makes the regrowth the less obvious. Enjoy your dark color! You and your hair are both beautiful!!!
Lilly says
I’m going to try some of these tips and tricks, thank you for sharing!